Welcome to SPUR Concepts
Providing Sustainable Solutions to Complex Community Challenges
About Us
The SPUR Concept Solution Team is comprised of a collective group of entrepreneurs and industry experts with core experience in the real estate development and construction industry, human resource program management, state-of-art growing technologies, renewable energy and controlled environmental agriculture (CEA) business solutions, structural insulated panels, and support services who join forces to deliver unique local solutions.
SPUR ELEMENTS OF REVITALIZATION
SPUR ELEMENTS OF REVITALIZATION— The SPUR Concept consists of diverse, yet equally important facets. Combined they provide opportunity and stability for the community via food, housing, services and jobs with integrity for its residents.
The Housing Element
Building healthy communities requires that we create a continuum of high quality, affordable housing options that support the social, economic and physical needs of all residents. Affordable housing has been shown to positively impact the health of entire communities and improve overall health equity. The SPUR housing concept is designed, built and staffed to support a specific resident base with variable unit sizes and access to related on-site services and amenities. Residential units can vary from individual studio to 2-story family sizes to accommodate the needs of at-risk groups including, but not limited to, the following:
The SPUR facility is created through the mixed-use strategy of utilizing energy-efficient green construction to support the production and residential aspects of the structure and deliver unmatched utility savings for the residential component. An owner of a SPUR site will also benefit by being able to:
- Maintain a secure environment for the residents and employees
- Create by design a green space in the inner-city
- Create a sense of community
SPUR recognizes that we cannot have a thriving economy and society unless the communities served are healthy and sustainable. Our commitment is to improve the quality of life in the communities where the need is the greatest.
The Food Production Element
The integration of an indoor organic vertical farming operation in combination with the residential housing element provides the building owner with a substantial income stream that can be utilized to offset funding for additional benefits and services to the building residents and surrounding community.
Vertical farming is a food-growing concept wherein food is grown within buildings—often in the city—as an efficient means of land use and a way to get fresh food to local residents. Organic growing technology provides roots with a ready supply of beneficial bacteria, nutrients and fertilizer to protect and promote healthy root and plant development and when combined with additional technologies will cost-effectively grow most fruits and vegetables indoors. A controlled micro-environment is created that effectively manages temperature and humidity elements associated with the production of crops without herbicides, pesticides, fungicides or metals. The patented grow medium gives a plant exactly what it needs, when it needs it, in the amount that it needs, and the plant is as healthy as is genetically possible. These aspects of vertical farming have a positive impact on the carbon footprint related to the growing process compared to traditional agricultural techniques.
Through the inclusion of a Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) solution, which includes the use of high-tech monitoring systems and energy efficient LED lighting and solar panels, indoor farming is utilized to supply the community with year-round local organic produce. Current cropland is not able to keep pace with the growing demand for this organic produce. Indoor technology will be needed to support rising consumer demand.
US Organic acreage is less than 1% of total cropland while sales are over 5%.
The Employment and Workforce Element
There are two parts to the operation of the vertical farming business – facility employment and workforce training. The SPUR Project adds full-time well-paying jobs for the operation of the vertical farm as well as building maintenance and community related services employment opportunities.
- Food production employees participate in ongoing training and support.
- Entrepreneurial opportunities with worker ownership and vesting are key components in the employment program.
The Services Element
The SPUR model allows for flexible floor plans in order to provide the necessary square footage for various local services.
Community development includes providing the necessary services that enrich the lives of the residents. Each location has its own specific needs that will help neighborhood rejuvenation, thus providing services such as medical care, vocational training, fresh food market and services, daycare & family support, and retail shops.
Sustainable Practical Urban Revitalization can only be realized through the purposeful integration of different operations to create a truly impactful solution to a variety of local challenges. Opportunities to offer targeted services to the building residents as well as the surrounding neighborhood expands the socioeconomic impact of the SPUR concept.
RETURN ON COMMUNITY
Investment in the SPUR concept generates a positive R.O.C.